Electromagnetic clock winding mechanism



June'i, 1948.

v S. W. BRAMLEY ELECTROMAGNETIC CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM Filed 001;: 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sylvan WBmmZey Y ATTORNE7 June 1, 1948. I s w, B R EY 2,442,395

ELECTROMAGNETIC CLOCK WIND ING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ll' 1 I C I I y Z e7 6 7 ATTOR Y Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED sures PATENT orri c1:

.Sylvanus W. Branuey, White PlainsN. .Y. Appiication October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,738

.4 Claims. 1

This invention relates "EOfiXEClJPQIDZrEfiGfiC clock windin mechanism.

The invention is .in the nature of an improvement on my copending appplication Serial 'No. 539,945, filed June .12, 1944, now Patent :No. 2,412,077. As showninthat application, the. clock mechanism is operated by the rotation of an armatureactuatedby a spring. When thearmature reachesa predetermined positionwco-rrespondingz lo a run-down conditionof the mechanism, it is necessary to restore :the desired amount of energy in the spring by-amove-mentof the armature inthe opposite or counter-clockwise direction. As set forth in said priorapplication, this is accomplished by the closing ofan electrical circuit, specifically by the acti-onof contact mechanism carried and actuated by the said armature. It has been found that it is :of the greatest importance that the closing of the electrical circuitby the said contact or switch mechanism shouid be complete, positive and instantaneous. this is not the case, the operation of the mechanism is not as reliable and accurate as is desired.

Gne of .the principal objects of this invention is to devise improved means for accomplishing this purpose. Another principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for maintainingccmplete and satisfactorycontactclosing conditions during rewindi-ng .of the mechanism.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich Figures 1, 2, and 3. show that part of the clock mechanism with which the present invention is concerned.

Figures 4' to 10 show the details.

Figure l is a view with the cover of the clock removed showing the armature its run-down condition and in relation to the-electromagnet,

Figure 2 is a viewsi-milar to Figure 1 showing the armature in its wound-up condition,

Figure 3 is a view similar to- Figure l with the electromagnet removed so that the underlying mechanism can be more clearly seen,

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing in enlarged detail the snap sud-telling mechanism,

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the armature showing the position of the automatic switch closing structure-at the instant of its closing and when the armature is in a run-down position,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. '5 showing the mechanism when the armatureis in its Wound-up position,

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1,, .1 of Figure 1,

Figure 81s a View similar to Figure? showing one o th a t in a di f rentposition,

Figure .9 is a View taken. on. the line 9, .9 of- Figure 7 2 I1d7100kil1fi111h6 direction :of the arrows. and

'Figllre 10 isa viewitakenon'theline t0, to of Eigmel andlookingiinthedirection:of the arrows.

In the :several :views :the same parts :are shown ythesamenumerals.

The .dial or face member I supports a plate :2.

his plate supports posts not specifically shown 7 to :whichthe yoke 3 or bridgennember .is secured byzmeans of screws 5, 5a. One end of a fixed mandrel fiis anchored in the bridge member of yoke 3, and .on this mandrel there is rotatably mounted a .hollow drum :1 carrying on the inside thereof theamain-spring 1a, shown in dOfitedzlillGS. The armature :9 having end .pieces .-9a, 1% is also mtatably m unted on said .mandrel 6 and is recessed to provide a space which receives the Sa d dram Theilatter hasa ratchet wheel circumference and iseonnected with. the armatinet through pawl ilil. By rotating the drum in relation -,to the armature 6, the main spring. la may be given ,a :normal' or minimum :tension and then additional energy is supplied to said spring by the intermittent rotation of the armature caused. by the corresponding intermittent energization of the .electromagnet. Also rotatably mounted on said mandrel 5 is another ratchet wheel 18 which cooperates with .pawls I5, 15a mounted on the armature .9. Rotation of the ratchet wheel 3 causes operation of the clock mechanism which mechanism may be of the conventional type and .is therefore not shown.

Thearrnatune i! alsoxcarriesan extension or ear 2E, onewhich is: secured pivot pin :26; On this pin there is pivotally rm canted snap switching m'e chanisni employing the toggle principle. This includes a lever .28 having an upstanding bracket pm't on '4 and rotatably or pivotal-1y secured on the pin ifi -by means of ring 29. The lever28' has areeess oi-"notchedportion M which receives one end of a resilient strip err-spring toggle member 40, the other end of which" is securedv to bar .39 at the joint 30. The bar 3194s secured to armature -9atthe-point139a.

The bar .39 is resilient and: biases the spring member tl in: thenctch M. It willbe seen that when. the lever member 28- is turned so that the l-i-neof application of the bias" gforc'e lies to the left or the-right of center line 3:1, that the lever member. .18 will be snapped :by theeriergy inithe spring member Ml.

As specifically shown in the drawings, the upstanding blanket-42 carries a pr'esser bar at cooperates elongated contact member dicated 1generallyas thsaid prjesser bar 43' which is partef the: toggle switch mechanism, operating tesnap-said -contact 41: into switch or circuit closing when-:theaarmature 9 has-reached itSrnunedoWn-lnositio llfihen theacircuit is closed,

the arm or cnntaet H- bridges two pur silver contacts 58, 58a which are spaced apart and connected to metallic strips 51', 51a separated by insulation 55, the said spaced contact, strip and insulation being mounted upon an insulating cover plate 56 made of any suitable insulating composition. The cover plate 56 is supported on posts 66 and the electromagnet H is secured to and suspended from said cover plate and lies just above the yoke 3 so that the end pieces 9a, 9b of of its mounting on the pin 26 supported on the extension of armature 9, is so arranged in relation to the spaced contacts 58, 58a, that when the pivot 26 is moved through an arcuate path by rotation of the armature to its run-down position, said contact arm 41 is then in a position where a swinging or rotative movement of said contact arm 4'! about the pivot 26 causes engagement of said contact arm 41 with the silver contacts 58, 58a at a point intermediate between the ends of said contact arm 41 (see for example Figs. 1 and 2, also Fig. 4). The contact arm 41 is held by electromagnetic attraction of the electromagnet H, in circuit closing position in which position the said contact bridges the pure silver contacts 58, 56a and the said arm 41 will remain in said circuit closing position as long as the electromagnet is energized. When the armature 9 is rotated under the pull of the electromagnet, the contact arm 41 is wiped across the silver contacts 58, 58a. When the armature is rotated to its fully wound-up position (note Fig. 2) the arm 4'! is caused by that movement to be disengaged from contact with said spaced contacts 58, 58a and the electrical circuit including the electromagnet and said spaced contacts 58, 58a is thus broken and the arm 41 biased away from the contacts 58, 5811 by spring 49. The armature is then free to be rotated under the urge of the main spring since the magnet is then deenergized. It may be stated at this point that the said arm 4! is free to rotate through a small are or angle which may be suitably limited, as for example, by means of guide pieces 59, 59a secured in the cover plate 56 in cooperation with a recess 56b in said cover plate, forming an elongated slot to receive the elongated arm 41.

The invention includes special means for obtaining and maintaining suitable, positive, and instantaneous switch closing action, including not only the previously mentioned toggle switchmechanism but also certain structure of the contact arm 41. It will be seen that the arm 41 comprises a member which is split longitudinally to provide two legs 41a and 4112. These are thin resilient strips made of soft iron which cooperate with a soft iron shoe I60, attached to the pole piece No of the magnet. To the legs 41b there is secured a resilient strip prefer-ably made'of bronze, brass or the like, this strip 50 being secured at one end by screw 48 and at the other end by being bent around the end of the strip 41b to form a hook or loop as shown in Fig. 4. The bronze strip 50 is also spaced somewhat from the strip 411) to provide a cushion effect. To each of the strips 47a and 50 there is-secured by brazing or otherwise two V-shaped bars 5|, 5|a and it will be seen that the bar 5| (note Fig. 8) is in a position advanced toward the contacts 58, 58a more than the bar 5|a. In operation therefore the contacts 58, 58a are not bridged at precisely the same infinitesimal increment of time but rather the contact 580 first is engaged by the bar 5| andthen the bar 5|a engages the contact 58, it being also noted that the trigger or toggle action of the presser bar 43 (see dotted line, Fig. 9) serves to instantaneously snap the bar 5|a into contact with the contact 58.

Owing to the V-shaped arrangement of the bars 5|, 5|a there is an improved maintenance of electrical contact or circuit closing conditions during rotation of the armature from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, from a run-down to a wound-up position of the armature.

Regarding the operation of the device and assuming that the armature has been rotated to its wound-up position as indicated in Fig, 2 and that the electrical circuit has thereby been broken by disengagement of the arm 41 with the spaced contacts 58, 5841, the armature is then free to rotate under the urge of the main spring la. At that time the lever 28, spring toggle member 40, presser bar 43 and the arm 41 are in the positions indicated in Figs. 6 and 4, the presser bar 43 having been snapped to its release position and the arm 41 having been spring-urged away from spaced contacts 58, 58a. Now as the lever 28 rotates together with the armature 9, extension 25 and pin 26 on which said lever 28 is mounted, the lug 35 on the lever 28 engages the lug 31 on the yoke 3 as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the lever .28 is turned. This turning occurs when the armature is in the run-down position as shown in Figs; 1 and. 5, and the said turning of the lever 28 has the efiect of snapping the switch, that is, the lever 28 is snapped into the position shown in Fig. 5 thereby snapping the presser bar 43 against the contact member indicated generally as 41 and causing positive and instantaneous closing of the electrical circuit. As the armature starts to rotate under the pull of the eletromagnet toward its wound-up position and in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 5, the lug 36A on the lever 28 engages the lug 31 on the yoke 3. This turns the lever 28 and the toggle action then snaps the lever into released position as shown in Fig. 6 although this release occurs before the lever 28 is tripped, said release occurring by the said turning action of the lever 28. During this time the bars 5|, 5| a are being wiped across the silver contacts 58, 58a by a combination of transverse and longitudinal motion as a result of the V-shaped arrangement of the bars 5| 5 la. This wiping movement is caused by the movement of the pin 26 on the extension 25 of the armature 9, said pin moving to an arcuate path and pulling the pivoted arm 41 through a path confined between the guide pins 59, 59a. During this movement the presser bar 43 has been moved into released position by the turning of the lever 28 caused by engagement of lugs 36, 3! and when the armature is in its wound-up position as shown in Fig. 2 the end of the arm 41 is pulled away from the silver contacts 58, 58a, the electrical circuit is broken and the arm 41 is biased away from said contacts 58, 58a by spring 49. It will be clear that numerous modifications may be made within the scope of the principles and disclosure herein set forth. A considerable number of variations of the toggle mechanism specifically shown may be employed, for example, the resilient strip 46 could be pivoted to the lever 28 and might be a rigid member connected to a coil spring secured to the armature 9. The specific toggle mechanism shown has been found to be satisfactory but is merely one embodiment of the principle thereof as applied in the present environment. The invention includes the efiect of the toggle switch, the lever of which is automaticaliythrown by engagement with any suitable means carried by the body of the clock mechanism. In the structure specifically shown, e. g., Figs. and 6, the turning of the lever is by engagement there-of with a lug 37 on the yoke 3. It will be clear that the lever 28 could be turned by other equivalent and automatic means, the invention involving the provision of said automatic turning caused by rotation of the armature on which the pivoted lever 28 is mounted. The invention is not necessarily limited to the use of the contact arm ll in combination with the presser bar 3 specifically shown as part of the toggle trigger switch mechanism because in some cases the switch can be closed and maintained in its closed position and opened by the toggle switch mechanism without the interposition of arm 47. Such arm is however advantageous particularly when provided with the structure illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, because said arm assists in maintaining the electrical circuit in closed condition during rotation of the armature from the run-down position to the wound-up position.

What is claimed is:

1. In clock mechanism of the character described including an armature arranged to be rotated to a run-down position by the energy of the main spring and to a wound-up position by the action of an electromagnet upon the closing of an electric circuit, the improved means for closing said circuit upon rotation of said armature to said run-down position which comprises toggle switch mechanism including a spring-biased toggle element and a switch arm pivoted on said armature and means engaging said element to trip the toggle and snap the switch arm into closed circuit condition, upon rotation of said armature and toggle element into the run-down position of said armature, said switch arm on being snapped to a closed position engaging one of the poles of said electromagnet, said electromagnet holding said toggle switch mechanism in a circuit-closing position until said armature is moved to a wound up position.

2. In clock mechanism of the character described including an armature arranged to be rotated to a run-down position by the energy of the main spring and to a wound-up position by the action of an electromagnet upon the closing of an electric circuit, the improved means for closing said circuit upon rotation of said armature to said run-down position which comprises toggle switch mechanism including a springbiased toggle element pivoted on said armature and a switch arm pivotally mounted on said toggle element and means engaging said element to trip the toggle and snap said switch arm into closed circuit condition upon rotation of said armature and toggle element into the run-down position of said armature said switch arm on moving to a closed position engaging one of the poles of said electromagnet, said electromagnet holding said switch arm in a closed position until said armature reaches a wound up position.

3. In clock mechanism of the character described including an armature arranged to be rotated to a run-down position by the energy of the main spring and to a wound-up position by the action of an electromagnet upon the closing of an electric circuit, the improved means for closing said circuit upon rotation of said armature to said rundown position which comprises a pair of fixed switch contact members, a pivot on said armature, a switch arm pivoted on said pivot, said arm being arranged to move by an arcuate movement of said pivot into a position where rotation of said switch arm causes it to engage said contacts and close said circuit, said arm being normally biased away from said contacts and into open circuit position, and means to snap said switch arm into engagement with said contacts, said means including a spring-biased toggle element pivotally mounted on said pivot and carrying a presser bar, and means on said toggle element and cooperating means on the body of the mechanism to trip said toggle element and cause the presser bar to snap said switch arm into engagement with said fixed contacts upon rotation of said armature and toggle element to the run-down position of said armature and to release said presser bar and permit said arm to be biased into open circuit position upon rotation of said armature into a wound-up position, said switch arm on being moved to a closed position engaging a portion of one of the poles of said electromagnet, said switch arm being held in engagement with said contact members by said electromagnet as said armature moves toward a wound up position, said switch arm sliding across said contact members as said armature moves toward a wound up position and sliding oiT said contact members to break the circuit to said electromagnet when said armature reaches a wound up position.

4. In clock mechanism of the character described including an armature arranged to be rotated to a run-down position by the energy of the main spring and to a wound-up position by the action of an electromagnet upon the closing of an electric circuit, the improved means for closing said circuit upon rotation of said a1- mature to said run-down position which comprises toggle switch mechanism including a spring-biased toggle element pivoted on said armature and a switch arm pivotally mounted on said toggle element, a pair of contact points, and means engaging said element to trip the toggle and snap said switch arm into closed position upon rotation of said armature and toggle element into the run-down position of said armature and spring means biasing said switch arm away from a closed position toward contact with said toggle element, and a resilient contact member mounted on said switch arm for engaging said contact points.

SYLVANUS W. BRAMLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,692,408 Hobbs Nov. 20, 1928 1,770,677 Stern" July 15, 1930 1,779,214 Kaefer Oct. 21, 1930 1,811,278 Neureuther June 23, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 120,091 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1927 319,120 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1929 

